Hello everyone! Back again with another route suggestion - and I feel like we need to discuss this one and it's importance to TSW. I'd like to suggest that we bring in the South Western Mainline from Weymouth - Southampton Central and show the South Coast a bit more love compared to the over extensive WCML content as it's the part of the network we haven't seen in game as of yet (excluding the island line of course)! So what is the South Western Mainline (SWML)? The South Western Mainline, more commonly known by it's abbreviation SWML, is a key corridor expanding over 150 miles from London Waterloo in central London to the seaside coastal town of Weymouth in Dorset. Linking the capital with major commuter centres, historic cities, and coastal destinations, the route offers huge operational and scenic variety. Along the way it serves major hubs such as Clapham Junction (Brighton Main Line, West London Line, Windsor Lines), Woking (Portsmouth Direct Line, Alton Line), Basingstoke (Reading line, West of England Line to Exeter & Salisbury), Southampton Central (West Coastway, Romsey via Chandler’s Ford, CrossCountry intercity services), Brockenhurst (Lymington branch), Bournemouth and Poole (CrossCountry services to the Midlands and North), before reaching Weymouth. With dense commuter traffic, long-distance expresses, freight potential, and a wide range of junctions and branch interactions, the South Western Main Line would provide an engaging and highly varied experience in simulation form. Why would Train Sim World benefit from having the SWML: Weymouth - Southampton Central in game? Train Sim World would directly benefit from having the South Western Mainline in game, as it opens up new opportunities not previously explored in earlier franchises (e.g. Train Simulator Classic) as it was limited to just the smaller section of the route. With frequent hourly / bi-hourly services in both directions on popular Class 444 and Class 450 Desiro EMUs, it builds on the base structure of similar existing rolling stock such as the Class 350 avoiding the need to ensue complex new builds whilst allowing players to get the feel of a new experience along a revisited version of this popular line. What Stations would be included in this proposal? Since the line runs through rural and high-density towns and cities I've mainly limited this proposal to Weymouth - Southampton to keep complexity to a minimum. The stations would include rural stations such as: Upwey Dorchester South Moreton Wool Wareham Hamworthy Parkstone Branksome New Milton Sway Brockenhurst Lymington Town Lymington Pier Ashurst New Forest And more dense locations such as: Weymouth Poole Bournemouth Southampton Central What are the landmarks on this section of the route? Brockenhurst College (as seen from Google Earth 3D Render): Lymington Pier Bridge (as seen from Lymington Quay): Bournemouth Station (as seen from station footbridge + double class 444 Desiro EMU in SWT Livery) What services will be available? Weymouth - London Waterloo + Coupling scenarios at Bournemouth (AI from Southampton onwards) Bournemouth - Winchester Stopper (Class 450)(AI from Southampton onwards) Brockenhurst - Lymington Pier Branchline (Class 450) AI-only Services: Southampton - Brighton (possible future expansion?) Southampton - Portsmouth Harbour Southampton - London Victoria (via Arundel & Three Bridges) Romsey Rocket (Romsey - Southampton - Chandlers Ford - Romsey - Salisbury) Rolling stock: Class 159 (SWR)[AI Romsey Rocket Services] Class 450 Desiro (SWR) [Stopping Services + AI] Class 444 Desiro (SWR) [Semi-Fast + AI] Class 166 (GWR) [AI - Cardiff Central services] Class 220 Voyagers (Cross Country)[Bournemouth - Southampton Only] Class 377 Electrostars (Southern AI Services only) So do we think the SWML would be a great addition to TSW?
Great suggestion and I hope at some point we get a SWR route. The ones we have in TSC are some of my favourites.
I believe it was based on one of my earlier suggestions of the SWML however I wasn't as persuasive in that one - but genuinely having the SWML will be a fun addition into the simulator for sure!
